A survey of cultural

resources in Botetourt County is

coming to a conclusion with a public

meeting to report the results of the

survey now scheduled. The public is

cordially invited to attend the

presentation scheduled for Tuesday,

December 9, 2008, from 6 PM to 8

PM in Rooms 226-228 of the Green-

field Education and Training Center

off of US 220 near Daleville.

The county-wide survey of

buildings and structures dating to

1940 and earlier was funded by a

Cost Share Program Grant from the

Virginia Department of Historic

Resources of $25,000. The grant

was matched by a $25,000 appropri-

ation from the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and a $1,500 contribution from The

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. The survey, which began in February, 2008, was

administered by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources with assistance from Botetourt

County and the Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. It was conducted by Hill Studios of

Roanoke, a multi-disciplinary firm that has historic preservation as one of its areas of speciali-

zation. Architectural historians, including Alison Blanton, project director and team members

Anne Beckett, Molly Meredith and George Abry, visited sites throughout Botetourt County

gathering information and taking pictures.

The following statement from Alison Blanton of Hill Studios, describes the team’s

experiences in conducting the survey:

“The Botetourt County Survey was a journey to many geographic regions, small

towns, and lost communities. Many of the sur-

veyed structures portray a history of forgotten

people and places; Queen Anne houses and farm-

steads that retain their setting and time period;

small vernacular worker’s cottages to large brick

Greek Revival houses; a mining power plant and

cannery, barns, silos, and corn cribs; many struc-

tures that represent a forgotten period of time.

We traveled back roads, along streams and rivers

that took us to hamlets, stores, schools, and

churches, and majestic Greek revival houses sit-

ting forgotten in fields. While many of Botetourt’s

See Survey Meeting on page 3

Inside this issue:

From the President 2

Zion Hill Baptist

Celebrates 175

Years

3

Fourth Annual

Founders Day

Dinner

4

Cloverdale School

Artifacts on Display

5

Emily Honts Awards

for 2008 Announced

6

New and Renewed

Memberships

7

Cultural Resources Survey Public

Information Meeting on December 9

Look for information re-

garding the 2009 Life-

writing Contest spon-

sored by Homespun Leg-

acy, Botetourt Genealogy

Club and The Botetourt

County Historical Society,

Inc..

Page 4

Volume 14 Issue 3 & 4

November, 2008

A Touch of History Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc

P.O. Box 468

Fincastle, Virginia 24090

The ca. 1800 two story log Hammitt House.

From left to right, Anne Beckett and Molly Meredith of Hill Studios

consult with BCHS Board members Kate Harris and Loretta Caldwell.

Message From the President Botetourt County Historical

Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 468 3 West Main Street

Fincastle, Virginia 24090-0468

Ph. (540)473-8394

Email: info@bothistsoc.org ,

Officers

John W. Rader, Jr., Pres. 345-1555

Sidney Hunter, Vice-Pres. 884-2433

Nadine Rankin, Secretary 473-8686

Weldon Martin, Treas. 473-2636

Directors

John Alderson 992-4800

Judith Barnett 473-2082

Cathy Benson 473-2762

Joseph Buhrman 884-2084

Loretta Caldwell 884-2022

Angela Coon 473-2871

Alice Crowder 992-3360

Patricia Ellis 473-2313

Harry Gleason 254-1212

John Graham 580-7786

Katherine Harris 473-2337

Dr. Randall Hayes, Jr. 884-2275

Patricia Honts 992-3020

Ann Layman 992-3333

Antonia McCoy 862-5229

Thomas Myers 884-2158

Stephen Vest 977-3433

Mark Woodie 992-3509

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. is a charitable 501

C3 nonprofit organization. Dues and donations are tax-

deductible.

Executive Director and Editor: Weldon Martin

Email: weldonm@bothistsoc.org

Botetourt County Historical Museum

3 West Main Street

Fincastle, Virginia 24090

Open Monday thru Saturday, 10 AM-2PM

Sunday, 2 PM-4PM

Website: bothistsoc.org

Volume 14 Issue 3 & 4 A Touch of History Page 2

Dear Fellow Members,

Fall is quickly turning to winter. We have had a busy

season. Several of our docents and officers have par-

ticipated in local genealogy fairs. In October we spon-

sored a Historic District Workshop along with His-

toric Fincastle, Inc, the Town of Fincastle, and Bo-

tetourt Remax Realtors. This workshop was well

attended with approximately 50 people learning

about the ins-and-outs of historic districts and desig-

nations. By the time you have received this newslet-

ter we will have hosted the annual Botetourt Cham-

ber of Commerce Holiday Business After Hours.

Of course the highlight of our fall was our Annual Founder’s Day Dinner. The

speaker this year was Dr. Philip Stone, President of Bridgewater College. He

spoke on one of his key areas of interest – the Abraham Lincoln connection

to Virginia and his family that lived here. I would like to thank all of the spon-

sors for this event and all of you who purchased tickets. I would also like to

thank Ann Layman for securing the speaker and the Founder’s Day Dinner

committee for making this a successful event.

Please mark your calendar for the evening of December 9, 2008. (Refer to

article on Page 1 for details of the meeting.) The team that compiled the

historic survey will present some of their findings to the public. This survey

was a joint effort between Botetourt County, the state department of Histor-

ic Resources and the Botetourt County Historical Society.

With the holiday season approaching, please consider purchasing some of our

books and calendars to give as gifts. We have a wide range of titles and prices

and everything is available for sale at our museum store or by mail. Our 2009

historic calendar is now on sale and is the second of a series featuring historic

churches of Botetourt County. This full color calendar makes a wonderful

Christmas gift at just $11.00 each. By the way, for those of you who may have been waiting, the newly reprinted Related Families of Botetourt by

Austin is now on sale at the museum store.

During this season of Thanksgiving I would like to thank all of our members

and supporters for their help throughout the year. Please keep us in mind in

your end-of-year gift and tax planning. I also want to take this opportunity to

thank our Executive Director, Weldon Martin, our docents and volunteers

for all of their hard work.

I want to personally wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy

and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

John Rader Jr.

President

November, 2008 A Touch of History Page 3

In Honor of

Museum Docents

Loraine Harris, Loretta Wolfe, Patty King

and Betsy Peckham

For Faithful Support to

The Botetourt County Historical Museum

In Grateful Appreciation to

The Founders Day Committee

Thanks to each of you for your hard work

and dedication!

Special Tributes

You are invited to submit a tribute to someone special

by making a contribution to The Botetourt County Historical

Society in their honor or memory. This could be in recognition

of a birthday, a special event, or an anniversary. We will publish a

tribute to the individual in the next quarterly newsletter of the

historical society and will send a copy of the newsletter with an

accompanying letter to the person being honored or to the family

in the event of a memorial tribute.

Please submit information and checks made payable to

BCHS at PO Box 468, Fincastle, Virginia 24090. You are remind-

ed that BCHS is a 501©(3) organization and contributions are

fully tax deductible. Any funds received will be used to support

the programs and projects of The Botetourt County Historical

Society, Inc.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ZION HILL BAPTIST

CELEBRATES 175 YEARS

Established 1833

Zion Hill began as a vision of Absalom Dempsey who

saw the need for a church in the Patterson Creek area

of Botetourt County. Beginning in homes near Sugar

Creek Hollow, the church moved to a new building in

1840. The church, which began as Patterson Creek Baptist Church, officially changed the name to Zion’s Hill

at the time of the move. The original brick building was damaged by fire in 1890 and a new church building

was constructed in 1891 with high ceilings and a pot bellied stove for warmth on cold winter days. The pre-

sent sanctuary was completed in 1971 and later additional rooms and a fellowship hall were added. Today

the people of Zion Hill Baptist worship in a beautiful, comfortable modern building.

Survey Meeting on December 9

From Page 1

oldest and best examples of architecture had already been surveyed, we discov-

ered two ca. 1800 log structures; a two-story house with a rare Flemish bond

brick chimney and foundation, and a one-room house with a massive limestone

chimney. Most structures that we surveyed were two-story frame houses with

numerous log or frame outbuildings on large lots that dated to the late 1800s and

the early 1900s. Some early dwellings were built of brick, while a few were built of

stone. An atypical house is the well-preserved 1920 Arts and Crafts house associ-

ated with William Baldwin of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency in Roanoke.

Many of these houses are worthy of the National Register and many of the majes-

tic landscapes are worthy of protection. The majority of the home owners were

courteous and willing to help us discover the best about their homes and of Bo-

tetourt County.”

Shadowlands, the 1920 Arts and Crafts house

associated with William Baldwin.

November, 2008 A Touch of History Page 4

4th Annual Founders Day Dinner A Great Success

The Fourth Annual Founders Day Dinner of The Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. was held on Fri-

day evening, September 26, 2008, in the Family Life Center of the Fincastle United Methodist Church. A packed

house of around 170 people gathered at 6:30 PM to celebrate the founding and ongoing success of The Botetourt

County Historical Society, Inc. After the invocation and pledge to the flag, led by board of director’s member John

Alderson, a buffet dinner was enjoyed by all.

Following dinner, President John Rader, Jr. recog-

nized special guests and presented certificates of apprecia-

tion to corporate sponsors. The recipients of the Emily

Gordon Honts Heritage Award were announced (see

separate article) and door prizes were awarded.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Philip Stone, was intro-

duced by board member Ann Layman. Dr. Stone, presi-

dent of Bridgewater College and a well-known Abraham

Lincoln scholar presented a lively and informative talk on

Abraham Lincoln’s family connections in Virginia. As the

200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth approaches Dr. Stone

reported to the group that Abraham Lincoln’s father was

born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and many of

Lincoln’s ancestors lived and died in the area around Har-

risonburg, Virginia. In fact, Dr. Stone’s family has owner-

ship of the Lincoln family homestead, where the Lincoln

family cemetery is located, and Dr. Stone and his Lincoln

Society of Virginia holds an annual ceremony at the ceme-

tery celebrating Lincoln’s birth. Contrary to some published reports, Dr. Stone argues that Lincoln had an intense

interest in tracing his Lincoln family roots as evidenced by some of his correspondence.

Following his presentation Dr. Stone answered questions from the group. He was most gracious to remain

after the meeting to talk with individuals and pose for pictures. Dr. Stone declined to accept an honorarium for

his appearance, requesting that all profits realized from the dinner be used to support the work of The Botetourt

County Historical Society, Inc.

For more information on the Lincoln Society of Virginia visit their website at www.lincolnva.org. The next

Lincoln Day Ceremony is scheduled for February 12, 2009, at 2:00 PM at the Lincoln Homestead Cemetery, locat-

ed six miles north of Harrisonburg on Route 42.

Fifth Annual Lifewriting Contest

Sponsored by Botetourt Genealogy Club, Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. and Homespun Legacy

Theme: “Summer Picnics”

Submit your personal story or life experiences of not less than 500 words nor more than 1500.

Look for contest rules at www.homespunlegacy.com or phone 473-3998.

Deadline for entry: Must be postmarked between April 25 and May 31, 2009

First Place: $100 Second Place: $50 Third Place: $25

Dr. Philip Stone, President of Bridgewater College addresses crowd at

Founders Day Dinner.

November, 2008 A Touch of History Page 5

Eye on the Artifact Cloverdale School Artifacts on Display

School days are often fondly remembered for one reason

or another, perhaps because life is so formative in our youth. Schools and

education in Botetourt County have definitely changed in the past 100

years and the Botetourt County Historical Museum has a few artifacts to

tell the story. Madeline Bunn, a former Botetourt County School teacher

with a keen memory for history, has kindly contributed to our education

collection and has provided stories that help us piece together Botetourt

County schools around the turn of the century.

Madeline’s great grandmother, Ora Lankford, lived in Cloverdale

and attended the Cloverdale School in the Amsterdam district. A school

card listing the 32 students enrolled in the Cloverdale School in 1897-98 is

displayed in the upstairs main gallery near a school bell, writing slate and

linen phonics book used about the same time. In 1897 Cloverdale was

probably a one room or two room school house as were many that dot-

ted the Botetourt County landscape. The card names H.L Hammond as

the teacher and Col. Cary Breckinridge as the Superintendent of Schools.

At the top of the card, a whimsical quote reads:

“Ah me! Those joyous days are gone!

I little dreampt till they had flown!

How fleeting are the hours!”

To many of us that rings true and we can almost hear the school bells ring too!

(Contributed by Museum Docent Patty King)

Editors Note: The Botetourt County Historical Museum continues to accept offers of artifacts that are historically sig-

nificant and/or help to tell the story of the history of Botetourt County. If you feel that you have something that might

be of interest, please give us a call at (540)473-8394 or by email at info@bothistsoc.org.

Linen Phonics Book and Cloverdale School Card from

1897– 1898 school year on display at the Museum.

Museum Docent Loretta Wolfe talking with customer

at the BCHS booth at the Bedford Genealogical Fair on

September 13, 2008.

BCHS Board members Kate Harris and Loretta Caldwell

(standing to the left of the map) presenting a framed

historical map of Bedford to representatives of the Bed-

ford Genealogical Society at the Botetourt Genealogy Fair

on October 11, 2008.

November, 2008 A Touch of History Page 6

Emily Gordon Honts Heritage Award for 2008 Announced

at Founders Day Dinner

Recipients of the 2008 Emily Gordon Honts Heritage Awards were announced at the Fourth Annual Founders Day Dinner on

September 26, 2008. Established in 2005, the award is presented annually by The Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. to individuals

who have worked to preserve, promote or protect the heritage of Botetourt County. Three recipients were identified to receive the

award for 2008.

The first recipient was described by Helen Prillaman in her book, Places Near the Mountain, as “A man that perhaps knows more

about the places and people of early Botetourt County than any other person.” Historian and genealogist Charles T. Burton was born in

Troutville. After developing tuberculosis in the 1950s and being unable to work at his mechanic’s job Mr. Burton began his work as a

genealogical researcher that would become his life’s passion. He utilized the resources of the Virginia Room of the Roanoke City Public

Library and became a fixture around the Botetourt County Courthouse, spending countless hours doing genealogy research, first on his

own family and then for hundreds of others. Mr. Burton even traced his own roots all the way back to Pocohontas. Mr. Burton was

known for the thoroughness, detail and accuracy of his work. Although he died in 1998, the legacy of Charles Burton is that his research,

contained in eight books, is still being used extensively. The award was presented posthumously to Mr. Burton.

The second recipient was Dr. Charles L. Ayers, who was born in 1930 in the Pico area of Botetourt County, near Buchanan. He

attended Hampden-Sydney College, Drew University, New York University, and the Pontifical Roman University of Rio de Janero, Brazil.

His wife, Moema, and two children continue to live in Brazil. Dr. Ayers served as headmaster of the Anglican School of Aramas, Brazil,

which included an orphanage of 60 boys. During his leaves of absence from his work in Brazil, Dr. Ayers would return home to conduct

genealogical research. He spent countless hours in Bedford County doing research on his family history, and while there he began docu-

menting Bedford City and County cemeteries. He also did many many hours of work in Botetourt County and Rockbridge County. As a

result of his work, Dr. Ayers identified over 50,000 graves and 1500 cemeteries, including 4000 Civil War graves. At the time of his

death he had identified 189 abandoned cemeteries and nearly 1000 Confederate soldiers in Botetourt County. Dr. Ayers also helped to

get head stones from the government for many Civil War veterans and conducted traditional graveside rites along with Sons of Confed-

erate Veterans, Fincastle Rifles for many of them. The award was presented posthumously to Dr. Ayers.

The third recipient for 2008 is a familiar figure on the Roanoke Valley cultural scene who has been a friend and supporter of the

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. for over 40 years. Mr. George Kegley, although a native of Wythe County, has been a com-

manding presence in the Roanoke Valley for many decades. A graduate of Roanoke College, he worked as a reporter, assistant city edi-

tor and business editor for The Roanoke Times from 1949 until his retirement in 1993. He is married to Louise Fishburn Fowlkes of Roa-

noke and has been an active participant in a diverse group of civic organizations including the Historical Society of Western Virginia and

The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation. He is the long time editor of the Journal of the History Museum and Historical Society of West-

ern Virginia. Mr. Kegley’s interest in the history of Botetourt County and historic preservation in the county has made him a well respect-

ed friend to many. He was one of those who was instrumental in assisting the founders of The Botetourt County Historical Society in

creating the Botetourt County Historical Museum. He continues his work to this day and is currently an interested member of The Bo-

tetourt County Historical Society, Inc. Mr. Kegley accepted The engraved plaque to a standing ovation at the dinner on September 26.

A plaque, with the names of all the recipients permanently engraved, hangs at the Botetourt County Historical Museum in

Fincastle.

New and Renewed Memberships

Volume 14 Issue 3 & 4 Touch of History Page 7

Listed below are the new and renewed memberships received since the last newsletter and up to November 10, 2008. New and renewed

memberships received after that date will be listed in the next newsletter. Please accept our apology in advance if we have inadvertently

left anyone’s name off the list. We appreciate being notified if names have been listed incorrectly or misspelled.

Patrons ($100 and up)

Burch, Mrs. William (Phyllis)

Damerel, Anna

McClure, LTC Joseph (Ret.)

McMurry, Nan

Towles, William T.

Webb, Roy E. & Margaret

Friends ($25-$99)

Bagnoli, Bob & Sue

Banks, Therese

Bowman, Mitchell & Bobbie

Brannan, Hugh

Caldwell, Daniel D. (2 yrs.)

Carico, Melville

Claunch, Ed & Jean

Crotty, A. Eugene

Davis, Peggy C.

Dickerson, Nancy S.

Diez, Connie & Everett

Ellis, Patricia C.

Fitzgerald, Paul & Lee

Harlow, Mary L.

Heartwell, William III & Sudie

Huggins, William F.

Johnson, Joan Lemon

Martin, Tammy

McClure, Debra A.

Preston, Jane D.

Rash, Raymond

Reid, Don & Mary Jo

Richardson, John L.

Rinehart, Franklin

Ruffner, Alice Woodson

Smith, Jennifer

Thorn, Virginia

Yochim, Marie Hirst

Young, W.M.

Weinwurm, Keith & Naomi

Wood, Peter & Freda

Individual/Family ($10-$24)

Bolton, Mary Ellen

Boone, Rebecca & Cobble, John

Booth, Karen F.

Browning, Donna T.

Brusseau, Barbara J.

Burnett, Douglas & Lona

Casey, Daniel H.

Davis, Maggie

DiMurro, Donna

Edwards, Dr. & Mrs. R. Thomas

Ericsson, Brenda

Givens, Clyde & Nathalie

Goodmiller, Ken & Joan

Graves, Jack & Nancy

Harris, Loraine

Hartless, Eleanor S.

Johnson, Norma

Johnston, J.W. & Virginia

Kappesser, Gary & Karen

Kumm, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald

Linton, Joy

Martin, Ricky Dale

McMurry, Charles Reid Jr.

Morlang, Florence

Morris, Helen M.

Price John W. Jr.

Rudd, James M. & Dorryce P.

Sayler, John G.

Shuey, Ed & Verna

Thacker, Alvin & Pamela

Thompson, Nell

Vlasek, Aletha M.

Walker, Lee & Doni

Wehner, Kirk & Bettina

2008 Founders Day Doorprizes

Advance Auto Supply Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Outdoor Trails

Apple Barn II Gifts & Collectibles Curves Papa Johns

James Armentrout, Jr. First Citizens Bank Southern States Cooperative

Bellacino’s Floral Expressions Subway

Bojangles Ikenberry’s Orchard Three Graces

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc Kroger Three Li’l Pigs Barbeque

Botetourt Flower Shop Lyons Jewelry UPS Store

Cahoon’s Florist and Gifts Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea Mark Woodie

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 468

Fincastle, VA 24090

Non-Profit

Organization

U. S. Postage

PAID

Fincastle, VA 24090

Permit No. 47

We Appreciate Your Membership and Support!!!

Please Check Your Mailing Label Help support your historical society and the Botetourt County Historical Museum by renewing your membership at the

highest possible level. We depend on your generous support!

Your membership status is noted on your newsletter mailing label. If any of the information is incorrect, we would appre-

ciate your letting us know. The date on your mailing label is an expiration date for membership. If the date is No-

vember, 2008 or earlier, we respectfully request that you send us a membership renewal as soon as possible. (We

have also sent out complimentary newsletters to visitors to our museum or folks who have purchased books or souvenirs from our

museum store. We hope that you will decide to send us a contribution or become a member of the historical society.) Use the

enclosed Membership/Order Form with your dues, contribution and/or order. It is vitally important to the ongoing success of our

society that you update your membership annually and that you consider an additional gift to support the work of the historical

society. Your membership dues and additional financial support is used to help us operate the Botetourt County Historical Muse-

um and to promote the preservation of Botetourt County’s historical heritage in other ways, including assisting with genealogy re-

search, publishing this quarterly newsletter, and operating a museum store and mail order business (we ship books all over the

country).

PLEASE LET US HEAR FROM YOU!!!

Don’t forget to visit our

website at www.

bothistsoc.org.

2008 FOUNDERS DAY GOLD LEVEL CORPORATE SPONSORS

The Bank of Botetourt

The Bank of Fincastle

Digital Image Printing Company

Roanoke Cement Company